Cabinetlandia

Cabinetlandia

About ten miles east of Deming, Cabinetlandia is a tiny piece of desert containing an unusual art installation and a series of conceptual projects.

In 2003, the Brooklyn-based art and culture magazine ‘Cabinet’ purchased a half-acre parcel of undeveloped land in Luna County, sight unseen, as part of an issue exploring the idea of property. The magazine named the plot Cabinetlandia and divided it into imaginary districts with names like Readerland, Funderlandia, and Nepotismia. Over time, Cabinetlandia also took on the tongue-in-cheek identity of a tiny independent nation, with imaginary districts, institutions, and its own “National Library.”

The site’s main attraction is the Cabinet National Library, built in 2004 by Matthew Passmore and collaborators. A filing cabinet was embedded into an earth-and-sandbag structure in the desert, originally containing issues of Cabinet magazine, a guestbook, snacks, and other supplies for visitors. A mailbox, labyrinth, and other small projects have also appeared on the property over the years.

There is not much to do once you arrive, but that is sort of the point. Cabinetlandia is worth the detour for fans of conceptual art and extremely obscure roadside attractions. Plan on about 10 minutes at the site, plus whatever time it takes to find it.